It was a great year for Marin Camp, with a fabulous group, excellent weather, and a new assistant coach.  The following companies provided super support:

• LifeCycle Adventures – water bottles, spares and second vehicle
• Corsa Concepts – demonstration wheels
• Quarq – the world's best power meters
• SRAM NRS – On road and mechanical support, along with a huge dose of comedy
• KewlFit – cooling vests so good that Alberto Contador uses them
• Kate's Real Food – whole, natural, and organic nutrition for athletes
• Nossa Familia Coffee – Portland coffee, family-farmed in Brazil and roasted in my 'hood

Next year's camp is slated for March 25-29, 2014 so mark your calendar and put your deposit down as space is limited.

If you want to check out the fun, have a look at these photos.

Today I had the pleasure of speaking with April Lemly of Chicks On Bikes Radio.  We chatted about coaching, women's cycling and camps:

I was recently interviewed by George Thomas of Over The Top Radio.  We talked about how I got into coaching, how I work, Marin and Italy Cycling Camps, and where we're headed:

Thanks to all who participated in what turned out to be a fun and very productive training camp.  Thanks also to our excellent supporters:  Cyfac Bicycles, Quarq Powermeters, Corsa Concepts wheels, Kate's Real Food, Strava, StudioVelo, Endurofit, SRAM NRS, and LifeCycle Adventures.  Without these partners, Marin Camp would not be the special week that it is!

Here are some photos from that week:

Shakedown on Day 0

Joss reveals his corn rows

Traditional photo of camp in front of the excellent Ralston White Retreat

Riding above the Golden Gate

Karen climbs Mt Tam in the fog

Climbing away from Alpine Dam

Putting in the kilometers in West Marin

Jeb shows how he feels about Marin Camp

The 2012 AES Marin Camp is underway and it's already been a great one.  We've made a huge improvement with professional mechanical and on-road support from SRAM.  Jeb Stewart is my excellent co-coach and he's keeping a nice diary of the event:

http://www.floridacyclingcoach.com/Blog/tabid/82/PostID/83/Marin-Camp-Day-2---Here-Comes-the-Sun.aspx

Check it out!

This year's Marin Camp is done and I'm already looking forward to next year.  The weather played a big role and forced some schedule changes, but the staff and the Retreat handled it all wonderfully.  Thanks to all of the supporters of Marin Camp:

Quarq Technology - makers of the world's best bicycle power meters

Cyfac bicycles - top-end custom bicycles for the discerning rider

Studio Velo - purveyors of top-end bicycles and equipment right here in Mill Valley

Easton  - Suppliers of some of cycling's best wheels and components, based in nearby Santa Cruz

Clif Bar - keeping us fueled and hydrated on those long days out, from nearby Berkeley

Strava - Bay Area-based, Strava provided  ride analysis and rider comparisons through GPS data of our rides

Corsa Concepts - a new, Portland-based company providing top-end wheelsets to racers and to:

LifeCycle Adventures - offering self-guided and scheduled bike tours in California and Oregon, as well as supporting local bike advocacy organizations and events in each region, LifeCycle Adventures supplied spare bikes and our support van

Marin Camp 2012 is already well into the planning stages and I'm excited to make even more improvements for the future.  If you would like to reserve your place, email me at camp@aeolusendurance.com and let me know.

Today we took the decision to ride what we normally do on the final day - the Marshall Loop - in the hope of avoiding the cold soaking forecast for Saturday.  We mostly managed that, and ended up having a great day out.   More than 6 hours after leaving the retreat, the last riders filed in to a meal of chicken pad thai and rice.

Here are some photos:

Pre-ride briefing

Marshall Wall

Bovine Bakery stop

Jen and Anne tear it up on Hwy 1

Great photos of days 1 and 2:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61045911@N08/sets/72157626217167605/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61045911@N08/sets/72157626218892679/

Thanks to Jeb Stewart of Endurofit.

Day 2!  We lucked out with the weather on Sprint Day and actually got some nice work done in the Marin Headlands before heading around Paradise Loop for some bonus mileage. 

Here are some photos from the day:

Sprints!

Cooling down between sprints

Custom bike with demo wheels from Easton

Golden Gate bridge

It snuck up on me, but Marin Camp started with the biggest group ever!  After breakfast, we distributed some goodies from Camp supporters before Jeb gave a fantastic presentation on mental skills training and goal setting.

A total of 16 riders left to ride today, including two coaches, two representatives from Strava and one nice fellow from Quarq Technology who will spend the week riding with us.  We had a nice spin out Panoramic where we did 5 minute power tests.  Afterwards, we climbed up to Rock Spring before descending Ridgecrest down the spine of Mt. Tamalpais to Fairfax-Bolinas Rd.  The latter was covered with debris and rock slides from the area's recent storms and we found the gate at the bottom had been closed.  Stephan had to drive the van all the way back around to Stinson Beach while we all hopped the barrier and continued.  We did our 1-minute power tests on the flat leading to town then kept a nice tempo all the way back to the Retreat. 

Once we were home we were treated to a fantastic lunch before massages and a yoga class.

Here are some photos: